Thai gunman admits shooting dead British tourist at New Year party

Thai national Ekkapan Kaewkla (C), 26, who is suspected of killing British tourist Stephen David Ashton, is escorted by Thai police officers

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A MAN has confessed to shooting dead a British tourist at a New Year party in Thailand, police said yesterday.

Ekkapan Kaewkla reportedly admitted killing Stephen Ashton, 22, who was at a beach bar on the island of Koh Phangan when he was caught in the middle of a feud between two gangs.

He had gone to Thailand to get over the loss of his dad John, who died from a brain tumour in October 2011, aged 50.

Stephen was due to leave in about two months to spend a year in Australia.

His mum Diane, 48, was being comforted by his sister Emily, who said: “It’s such a shock. We are trying to get our heads round it. It hasn’t sunk in.”

In a statement, his family said they were “completely ­devastated” by the loss of Stephen, a city trader from Purley, Surrey.

They added: “He has been taken away from us in such cruel and tragic circumstances in which he was an innocent bystander simply enjoying New Year celebrations.

“We cannot comprehend how someone can carry out such a reckless act, giving such little value to human life.”

British tourist Stephen Ashton, 22,(centre) who has been shot dead at a New Year party on Koh Phangan island, Thailand

Stephen was shot in the stomach by a stray bullet fired by a homemade gun shortly after midnight. Kaewkla, 26, is said to have told officers he and friends were fighting with another group of Thai men.

He claims he pulled his gun when he was outnumbered and the shot that killed Stephen was an accident.

Kaewkla is due in court today, when his lawyers are set to ask for the charge to be reduced from murder to manslaughter.

If a judge agrees, he could be freed within two years or spared prison altogether.